Saturday, August 29, 2009

Bibliophilia

George Grant writes, "Every great library begins in the heart of someone with at least three heroic loves: a love for words, a love for truth, and a love for future generations. Libraries begin as a collection of beloved books, but those books generate a love for words, as well—without that, books are mere antiquarian or decorative curiosities."

Someone recently asked to come and look at our books. I laughed. Our books are here, there and everywhere. Scattered, carried, taped and read out loud. Loaned out, cherished, given, hoarded, quoted, memorized, referenced, given as gifts, loaned and lost and re-purchased, in the car, the bedrooms, the bathrooms, the office, at work, in briefcases, in purses, in the car, on tapes and CD's and in our heads. We have rubbed shoulders and been influenced by some of the greatest minds in history such as C.S. Lewis and King David and Webster, cried over sorrows such as recounts of slavery told by Beecher -Stowe, laughed heartily and out loud at the escapades of large families such as recorded by the Gilbreaths, learned how to think beyond ourselves through reading Covey and Stoddard and Holy Scripture and so many more.

Reading was my first love, and one I share passionately with my husband and children. Sharing our love of the Lord and of the Word and of Words are our highest hopes as parents. We have what's called a living library, one that we engage with and grow from and cherish.

Miss. R spent yet another summer working with gypsies, a people group that is largely illiterate and I just cannot fathom the limitedness of that life. Yes, they need saved. Saved from poverty and injustice and sickness and damnation and a life limited by them selves, because through faith and the Word, our eyes are opened to so.much.more.

Leadership Guru Max Dupree writes in Leadership as an Art, "As a child, (I often watched adults study books and learned on e of my first lessons about reading. They wrote in their books. Intent and involved readers often write in the margins and between the lines. Good readers take possession of what they are learning by underlining and commenting and questioning. In this manner, they "finish" what they read."

I'm currently reading the above quoted book, along with the 2nd edition of Latin Centered Curriculum and one other I'm not sure I should admit too... the writing is outstanding but I'm not sure the content is worth it or not, yet. I'm not reading as much as I'd like becasue life is just full but the year promises to be full of read-alouds and good books shared with our little Tribe of 5, Viking Man and others and I eagerly look forward to the Words ahead.

5 Days of Teaching Creatively

Gracious Heart Homeschool Vision

To give our children a firm foundation- academically, emotionally, socially, spiritually, so that they can be carefree during childhood, pointed True North all of their earthly days and in the presence of the One True Living God for all eternity.